EP0310273A2 - Mécanisme d'éjection pour cassettes à disque - Google Patents

Mécanisme d'éjection pour cassettes à disque Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0310273A2
EP0310273A2 EP88308641A EP88308641A EP0310273A2 EP 0310273 A2 EP0310273 A2 EP 0310273A2 EP 88308641 A EP88308641 A EP 88308641A EP 88308641 A EP88308641 A EP 88308641A EP 0310273 A2 EP0310273 A2 EP 0310273A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
lever
operating lever
ejecting mechanism
disk
cartridge
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP88308641A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0310273B1 (fr
EP0310273A3 (en
Inventor
Masayuki C/O Sony Corporation Suzuki
Hirokimi C/O Sony Corporation Iwata
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Sony Corp
Original Assignee
Sony Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Sony Corp filed Critical Sony Corp
Publication of EP0310273A2 publication Critical patent/EP0310273A2/fr
Publication of EP0310273A3 publication Critical patent/EP0310273A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0310273B1 publication Critical patent/EP0310273B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B17/00—Guiding record carriers not specifically of filamentary or web form, or of supports therefor
    • G11B17/02—Details
    • G11B17/04—Feeding or guiding single record carrier to or from transducer unit
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B17/00—Guiding record carriers not specifically of filamentary or web form, or of supports therefor
    • G11B17/02—Details
    • G11B17/04—Feeding or guiding single record carrier to or from transducer unit
    • G11B17/041—Feeding or guiding single record carrier to or from transducer unit specially adapted for discs contained within cartridges
    • G11B17/043—Direct insertion, i.e. without external loading means
    • G11B17/0434—Direct insertion, i.e. without external loading means with mechanism for subsequent vertical movement of the disc

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to an ejecting mechanism for disk cartridges, and particularly to an ejecting mechanism of disk cartridges incorporated in a disk recording and/or reproducing apparatus.
  • a disk cartridge is inserted in a cartridge holder located in its raised position by hand, until it reaches a predetermined position in the cartridge holder, and after the cartridge holder is moved downwards by a motor of the apparatus, the disk within the disk cartridge is mounted on a turntable.
  • the motor is driven again so as to raise the cartridge holder, so that the disk cartridge is ejected from the cartridge holder located in its raised position. Thereafter, the disk cartridge is withdrawn from the apparatus, and is stored.
  • the disk is set on a tray and withdrawn into the apparatus so as to be mounted on a turntable provided in the apparatus. Thereafter, the disk is pressed against and rotated together with the turntable by a presser that is supported by a swingable arm provided in the apparatus.
  • reduction gears are rotated with a tool, such as a screw driver or the like, from the outside of the apparatus, so as to swing the swingable arm.
  • an ejecting mechanism for disk cartridges comprising: a cartridge holder moveable between a raised position where a disk cartridge is inserted in and ejected from said cartridge holder through a cartridge insertion opening provided in a panel surrounding said ejecting mechanism, and a lowered position where a disk accommodated in said disk cartridge is mounted on a turntable; an operating lever moveable in the same direction as said disk cartridge is inserted and ejected, so as to raise and lower said cartridge holder; a driving member driven by a motor and engaged with said operating lever to move said operating lever; a disengaging member for disengaging said operating lever from said driving member; a locking member for locking said disk cartridge inserted in said cartridge holder; and a releasing lever for unlocking said disk cartridge which has been locked by said locking lever, wherein when said operating lever is moved to a second position where said cartridge holder is in said lowered position thereof, said disengaging member is put in action by a pushing operation from the front side of said panel to
  • the invention can provide an ejecting mechanism of disk cartridges in which a small number of parts are only added to the conventional ejecting mechanism, and nevertheless, the disk cartridge can be manually ejected in simple operation without using any special tools under an unordinary condition. Further the ejecting mechanism is very simple in structure, very reliable in operation and can be produced at a very low cost.
  • a pair of upper and lower links 3 and 4 are provided inside right and left side panels 2 which compose the housing of the apparatus 1.
  • the links 3 and 4 are swung upwards and downwards on respective fulcrums 5 and 6 provided on the side panel 2, and connected with each other by a link 7 substantially at their longitudinal central portions.
  • a cartridge holder 10 is supported on both its sides by the links 3 and 4 via pins 8 and 9 which project from the rear ends of the links 3 and the front ends of the links 4, respectively.
  • the links 3 and 4 are swung upwards and downwards, the cartridge holder 10 is moved in the direction of arrow a in figure 3A and arrow a ′ in figure 3B between its raised position and its lowered position.
  • the cartridge holder 10 is urged upwards by the force of a coiled tension spring 11 stretched between the rear end of the link 3 and the side panel 2.
  • a slider 12 is provided on one side of the upper face of the cartridge holder 10, so as to be moved forwards and rearwards (in the direction of arrows c and c ′ in figure 3A) along the cartridge holder 10, and urged in the direction of arrow c ′ by a tension coiled spring 13 stretched between the slider 12 and the cartridge holder 10. Further, the rear end 12a of the slider 12 is bent downwards, so as to project into the cartridge holder 10.
  • a locking member 15 is mounted, swingably in the direction of arrows d and d ′, on the front end of the cartridge holder 10 through right and left pivots 16.
  • the pivots project from the locking member 15, and are fitted in respective holes provided in the side walls of the cartridge holder 10. Further, the locking member 15 is urged in the direction of arrow d by the force of a coiled tension spring 17 which is stretched between the locking member 15 and the slider 12. From the respective ends of the locking member 15, a pair of right and left pins 18 project in parallel with the pivots 16, and a pair of lugs 19 and 20 extend downwards.
  • an adapter plate 24 of L-shape in section is provided on the front side of the apparatus l, and an operating lever 25 is arranged under the horizontal portion 24a of the adapter plate 24.
  • the operating lever 25 is suspended in the central portion thereof on a shaft 26 which projects from the horizontal portion 24a of the adapter plate 24, and is swung in a direction of arrow e in figure 5A and arrow e ′ in figure 5B.
  • a pair of pins 27 and 28 projecting from the respective ends of the operating lever 25, are inserted in both respective inclined guide slots 29 and 30 provided at the front ends of the links 4, and respective horizontal guide slots 31 and 32 provided at the front ends of the side panels 2.
  • the two inclined guide slots 29 and 30 are inclined in reverse direction to each other.
  • a drive assembly 37 is secured to the lower face of the horizontal portion 24a of the adapter plate 24, and a gear 39 is rotated by a motor 38 of the drive assembly 37.
  • a driving member, such as a pin 40 projects downwards from an eccentric position of the gear 39, and is fitted in an opening 33 which is formed by a rectangular recess 80 provided in the operating lever 25 apart from the centre thereof, and a leaf spring 35 described later.
  • a releasing lever 42 is arranged along the upper face of the operating lever 25 and is swung on the shaft 26 in a direction of arrows f and f ′. Further, provided in the releasing lever 42 are a step 43 for enabling the driving member 40 to push the releasing lever 42, and a recess 44 for preventing the releasing lever 42 from being pushed by the driving member 40, and the releasing lever ir bent upwards at the free end thereof to form a lug 45, which abuts against the lug 20 of the locking member 15.
  • the operating lever 25 Before loading of the disk cartridge 47, the operating lever 25 is in a first position shown in figure 5A, in which the pins 27 and 28 of the operating lever 25 are located in lower horizontal portions 29b and 30b of the inclined guide slots 29 and 30 as shown in figures 1 and 3A, respectively.
  • the cartridge holder 10 is located in its raised position due to the motion of the links 3 and 4 swung upwards by the operating lever 25, which is in the first position after rotated in the direction of arrow e shown in figure 5A.
  • the slider 12 In the raised position of the cartridge holder 10, the slider 12 is in the state of being urged in the direction of arrow c ′ by the force of the spring 13, so that the locking member 15 is in the state of being swung in the direction of arrow d ′.
  • a lid 53 is hinged on the back side of the cartridge insertion opening 52, and is pushed open by the edge 47a of the disk cartridge 47. Further, it is also to be noted that a pair of projections 53a are provided on the right and left sides of the front face of the lid 53 as shown in figure 2, lest the lid 53 should abut all along the line against the edge 47a of the disk cartridge 47, and thereby, be damaged.
  • the pins 18 of the locking member 15 engage with a pair of recesses 50 formed on the right and left sides of the disk cartridge 47, so that the disk cartridge 47 is locked within the cartridge holder 10. Further, as the locking member 15 is swung in the direction of arrow d , the lug 20 of the locking member 15 moves from a position indicated in chain­dotted lines to a position indicated in solid lines in figure 5A, so that the lug 45 of the releasing lever 42 is pushed and the releasing lever 42 is swung in the direction of arrow f .
  • the driving member 40 does not come in contact with the releasing lever 42, and further, while the lug 20 of the locking member 15 pushes the lug 45 of the releasing lever 42, the lug 19 of the locking member 15 also pushes a lug 55a provided one end of a lever 55, which is swung on a pivot 56 projecting from the horizontal portion 24a of the adapter plate 24, so that the lever 55 is swung against the force of the coiled tension spring 57, and the other end 55b of the lever 55 moves out of the way of a sensor 58 which may, eg, be a photo-interrupter. Thus, the sensor 58 is operated.
  • the gear 39 is rotated in a direction of arrow g by the motor 38, so that the loading of the disk cartridge 47 is started. That is, due to half rotation of the gear 39 in the direction of arrow g , the operating lever 25 pushed by the driving member 40, is swung in the direction of arrow e ′ as shown in figure 5B toward its second position, and thereby, the pins 27 and 28 of the operating lever 25 are moved to upper horizontal portions 29a and 30a of the inclined guide slots 29 and 30 as shown in figures 1 and 3B, so that the link is 3 and 4 are swung downwards, and the cartridge holder 10 is lowered in the direction of arrow a ′.
  • the centre core 49a of the disk 49 is horizontally mounted on a turntable 61 which is driven by a motor 60.
  • the disk 49 is rotated by the motor 60 and an optical head 62 is moved in the radial direction of the disk 49, so that a requested recording or reproducing is performed.
  • the driving member 40 pushes the step 43 of the releasing lever 42, so that the releasing lever 42 is swung in the direction of arrow f ′ and located in a position indicated in chain-dotted lines in figure 5A.
  • the lug 45 of the releasing lever 42 pushes the lug 20 of the locking member 15 to make the locking member 15 swing in the direction of arrow d ′ as shown in figure 3A, so that the disk cartridge 47 within the cartridge holder 10 is unlocked.
  • the slider 12 is moved in the direction of arrow c ′ due to the force of the spring 13, and the rear end 12a of the slide 12 pushes the edge 47a of the disk cartridge 47 to eject the disk cartridge 47 in a direction of arrow b ′ from the apparatus 1 through the cartridge insertion opening 52.
  • the ascent of the cartridge holder 10 is detected as follows.
  • a lever 69 provided is a lever 69, one end 69a of which abuts against the front stepped end 73 of the link 4, and when the lever 69 is swung on a fulcrum 70 against the force of a tension coiled spring 71, the other end 69b of the lever 69 is inserted in a sensor 72, which informs of the ascending of the cartridge holder 10.
  • the leaf spring 35 extends along the lower face of the operating lever 25, and one end 35a of the leaf spring 35 is fixed to the central portion of the operating lever 25.
  • the opening 33 is formed by the free end 35b of the leaf spring 35, and the rectangular recess 80 of the operating lever 25.
  • a flange 81 and a pair of vertically projecting lugs 82 are formed at the respective side edges of the operating lever 25, so as to prevent the leaf spring 35 from moving in the horizontal direction thereof, and make the leaf spring 35 moveable only vertically downwards (as shown arrow i in figure 7B).
  • a pair of adverse slant lugs 83 and 84 are formed at the side edges of the leaf spring 35 and operating lever 25, and further, a pair of embossed portions 86 and 85 lying one upon the other are formed near the pair of slant lugs 83 and 84 in the leaf spring 35 and operating lever 5.
  • a slant lug 87 for leading the driving member 40 into the opening 33 extends from the side edge of the leaf spring 35 just opposite to the other side edge forming the edge of the opening 33.
  • a push lever 91 swung on a fulcrum 92 is provided on the lower face of the operating lever 25. Disposed at the free end of the push lever 91 are a recess 93, a firstpush face 94 and a second push face 95, the first push face 94 being capable of pushing the flange 81 of the operating lever 25, and the second push face 95 being capable of pushing a lug 89 vertically projecting from the releasing lever 42.
  • a pin 97 is inserted into a hole 98 provided in the front panel 51 of the apparatus 1 as shown in figure 7A.
  • the pin 97 passing through a hole 99 provided in the vertical portion 24b of the adapter plate 24, is, then, guided by the pair of slant lugs 83 and 84, and inserted between the leaf spring 35 and the operating lever 25 as shown in figure 7B.
  • the leaf spring 35 is bent in the direction of arrow i , and the driving member 40 located in the position shown in figure 5B, slips out of the opening 33, so that the operating lever 25 becomes free from the driving member 40. It is to be noted that the free end 35b of the leaf spring 35 is raised enough, because the pin 97 runs on the embossed portion 85 of the operating lever 25.
  • the push lever 91 is swung in a direction of arrow h .
  • the push lever 91 is further swung after the first face 94 abuts against the flange 81 of the operating lever 25, the operating lever 25 is swung in the direction of arrow e towards its second position, so that the cartridge holder 10 is raised.
  • the disk cartridge 47 can be manually ejected with the aid of only an ordinary pin. Further, the push lever 91 pushes the operating lever 25 at first, and after a pertinent interval, pushes the releasing lever 42, so that the disk cartridge 47 is unlocked in good timing exactly in the same condition as the disk cartridge 47 is automatically unlocked.

Landscapes

  • Feeding And Guiding Record Carriers (AREA)
  • Holding Or Fastening Of Disk On Rotational Shaft (AREA)
EP88308641A 1987-09-21 1988-09-19 Mécanisme d'éjection pour cassettes à disque Expired - Lifetime EP0310273B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP236954/87 1987-09-21
JP62236954A JP2521979B2 (ja) 1987-09-21 1987-09-21 ディスクカ―トリッジのエジェクト機構

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0310273A2 true EP0310273A2 (fr) 1989-04-05
EP0310273A3 EP0310273A3 (en) 1990-04-18
EP0310273B1 EP0310273B1 (fr) 1994-11-30

Family

ID=17008221

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP88308641A Expired - Lifetime EP0310273B1 (fr) 1987-09-21 1988-09-19 Mécanisme d'éjection pour cassettes à disque

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US4945433A (fr)
EP (1) EP0310273B1 (fr)
JP (1) JP2521979B2 (fr)
KR (1) KR0130651B1 (fr)
AT (1) ATE114861T1 (fr)
CA (1) CA1313260C (fr)
DE (1) DE3852265T2 (fr)

Families Citing this family (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2736905B2 (ja) * 1988-11-14 1998-04-08 旭光学工業株式会社 ローディング装置
US5166918A (en) * 1989-05-15 1992-11-24 Seiko Epson Corporation Loading mechanism for disk cartridges with vibration reducing mechanism
JP2692290B2 (ja) * 1989-08-31 1997-12-17 ソニー株式会社 ディスク記録及び／又は再生装置
US5237473A (en) * 1989-11-22 1993-08-17 Teac Corporation Magnetic disk drive comprising a disk cartridge and a driving device which magnetic disk drive has an eject mechanism for softly ejecting the disk cartridge from the driving device
KR930009697B1 (ko) * 1991-05-14 1993-10-08 삼성전자 주식회사 광디스크 플레이어의 캐디취출장치
US5815344A (en) * 1992-02-17 1998-09-29 Sony Corporation Disc cartridge loading apparatus
JPH06349218A (ja) * 1993-04-12 1994-12-22 Sony Corp 光磁気ディスク装置
JPH0855449A (ja) * 1994-08-11 1996-02-27 Sony Corp ディスクドライブ装置
US5812370A (en) * 1996-06-14 1998-09-22 Dell Usa, L.P. Media eject mechanism
US6016236A (en) * 1996-10-21 2000-01-18 Onstream, Inc. Apparatus for the storage and/or reproduction of information on/from an information carrier
US5825616A (en) * 1997-01-21 1998-10-20 Dell Usa, L.P. Media module locking and ejecting mechanism
KR100521828B1 (ko) * 1997-06-30 2005-12-30 소니 가부시끼 가이샤 기록매체의기록및/또는재생장치
TW526989U (en) * 2001-06-29 2003-04-01 Wistron Corp Machine core of optical disk drive having manual disk-ejecting mechanism
KR20030033574A (ko) * 2001-10-24 2003-05-01 정준 디스크 플레이어
TWM246768U (en) * 2003-09-05 2004-10-11 Benq Corp Eject pin device

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3317935A1 (de) * 1982-05-19 1983-11-24 Canon K.K., Tokyo Vorrichtung zur handhabung von kassetten
EP0120180A1 (fr) * 1983-03-28 1984-10-03 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Appareil pour charger ou éjecter un disque magnétique
EP0156569A1 (fr) * 1984-03-09 1985-10-02 Sony Corporation Dispositif de chargement pour cassettes de disque
EP0219415A2 (fr) * 1985-10-05 1987-04-22 Sony Corporation Appareil d'enregistrement et/ou de reproduction pour disques magnétiques souples

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3845502A (en) * 1973-02-22 1974-10-29 Arvin Ind Inc Cassette locating system
JPS58179961A (ja) * 1982-04-13 1983-10-21 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd 記録媒体の装着装置
US4723185A (en) * 1983-09-17 1988-02-02 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Recording and/or reproducing apparatus
JPS60146952U (ja) * 1984-03-09 1985-09-30 ソニー株式会社 デイスクカセツトの装着装置
JPS60231964A (ja) * 1984-04-28 1985-11-18 Canon Inc 記録又は再生装置
JPH0664814B2 (ja) * 1985-09-08 1994-08-22 ソニー株式会社 デイスク再生及び／又は記録装置
US4816945A (en) * 1985-12-18 1989-03-28 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Improved locking and ejection mechanism for magnetic disk pack recording and reproducing apparatus

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3317935A1 (de) * 1982-05-19 1983-11-24 Canon K.K., Tokyo Vorrichtung zur handhabung von kassetten
EP0120180A1 (fr) * 1983-03-28 1984-10-03 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Appareil pour charger ou éjecter un disque magnétique
EP0156569A1 (fr) * 1984-03-09 1985-10-02 Sony Corporation Dispositif de chargement pour cassettes de disque
EP0219415A2 (fr) * 1985-10-05 1987-04-22 Sony Corporation Appareil d'enregistrement et/ou de reproduction pour disques magnétiques souples

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE3852265D1 (de) 1995-01-12
EP0310273B1 (fr) 1994-11-30
US4945433A (en) 1990-07-31
DE3852265T2 (de) 1995-04-13
EP0310273A3 (en) 1990-04-18
ATE114861T1 (de) 1994-12-15
KR0130651B1 (ko) 1998-04-17
JP2521979B2 (ja) 1996-08-07
CA1313260C (fr) 1993-01-26
KR890005727A (ko) 1989-05-16
JPS6479964A (en) 1989-03-24

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0310273B1 (fr) Mécanisme d'éjection pour cassettes à disque
US6480453B2 (en) Apparatus and method for driving an optical disc with a caddy having a cover
EP0137311A1 (fr) Dispositif pour charger ou décharger un emballage de disque magnétique
JP3414105B2 (ja) トレーガイド機構
US5119358A (en) Disk-cassette loading mechanism
US6344945B1 (en) Disk drive apparatus having a lock member for preventing erroneous disk cartridge insertion
EP0404589B1 (fr) Appareil d'entraînement de disque
JPH09212973A (ja) ディスク装置
US5673244A (en) Disk loading and magnetic head lifting mechanism using a single power source for a minidisk player
JPH03276454A (ja) 情報再生装置
JPH09212974A (ja) ディスク装置
EP1001417B1 (fr) Appareil et procédé d'entrainement d'un disque optique
JPH0658752B2 (ja) マイクロフロツピデイスクドライブのカ−トリツジ着脱機構
JPH11514773A (ja) 抽斗トレーを備えたタコグラフ
EP1455353B1 (fr) Système et procédé de chargement et de verrouillage de cassette à bande d'enregistrement
JP2979789B2 (ja) ディスクカートリッジ排出機構
JP3430714B2 (ja) 光磁気ディスク記録再生装置
JPH01144282A (ja) 光ディスク駆動装置のピックアップ保護機構
JP2967059B2 (ja) カートリッジのローディング機構
JP2616501B2 (ja) カセットローディング装置
JP2798716B2 (ja) カセットテープのローデイング装置
JP2000502487A (ja) 情報を情報キャリアへ記憶させ及び／又は情報キャリアから再生する為の装置
JPH0633531Y2 (ja) 磁気記録再生装置
JPH09212972A (ja) ディスク装置
KR200160651Y1 (ko) 비디오 카세트 레코더의 프론트 도어 장치

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): AT DE FR GB NL

PUAL Search report despatched

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): AT DE FR GB NL

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19901004

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19920706

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AT DE FR GB NL

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 114861

Country of ref document: AT

Date of ref document: 19941215

Kind code of ref document: T

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 3852265

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19950112

ET Fr: translation filed
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20010911

Year of fee payment: 14

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: AT

Payment date: 20010912

Year of fee payment: 14

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20010919

Year of fee payment: 14

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 20010927

Year of fee payment: 14

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20011001

Year of fee payment: 14

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: IF02

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20020919

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20020919

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20030401

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20030401

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20020919

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20030603

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST